gn of the dishes, as
the wonderful fruit they contained. One stand, that resembled a huge
African lily in design, contained several varieties of plums, as large
as hen's eggs, and transparent. They were yellow, blue and red. The
centre of the table was occupied by a fruit stand of larger size than
the others. It looked like a boat of sea foam fringed with gold moss.
Over its outer edge hung clusters of grapes of a rich wine color, and
clear as amethysts. The second row looked like globes of honey, the next
were of a pale, rose color, and the top of the pyramid was composed of
white ones, the color and transparency of dew.

The fruit looked so beautiful. I thought it would be a sacrilege to
destroy the charm it had for the eye; but when I saw it removed by pink
tipped fingers, whose beauty no art could represent, and saw it
disappear within such tempting lips. I thought the feaster worthy of the
feast. Fruit appeared to be the principal part of their diet, and was
served in its natural state. I was, however, supplied with something
that resembled beefsteak of a very fine quality. I afterward learned
that it was chemically prepared meat. At the close of the meal, a cup
was handed me that looked like the half of a soap bubble with all its
iridescent beauty sparkling and glancing in the light. It contained a
beverage that resembled chocolate, but whose flavor could not have been
surpassed by the fabled nectar of the gods.

CHAPTER III.

I have been thus explicit in detailing the circumstances of my entrance
into the land of Mizora, or, in other words, the interior of the earth,
lest some incredulous person might doubt the veracity of this narrative.

It does seem a little astonishing that a woman should have fallen by
accident, and without intention or desire, upon a discovery that
explorers and scientists had for years searched for in vain. But such
was the fact, and, in generosity, I have endeavored to make my accident
as serviceable to the world in general, and Science in particular, as I
could, by taking observations of the country, its climate and products,
and especially its people.

I met with the greatest difficulty in acquiring their language.
Accustomed to the harsh dialect of the North, my voice was almost
intractable in obtaining their melodious accentuation. It was,
therefore, many months before I mastered the difficulty sufficiently to
converse without embarrassment, or to make myself clearly unde